Government of Canada Commemorates the National Historic Significance of Chief Peguis
News Release
June 18, 2017 Selkirk, Manitoba Parks Canada Agency
National parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas represent the very best that Canada has to offer and tell stories of who we are, including the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples.
To mark the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience nature and learn more about our history.
The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today commemorated the importance of Chief Peguis as a person of national historic significance. A special ceremony was held in St. Peter Dynevor Anglican Church in Selkirk, Manitoba, with members of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and the Peguis First Nation.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that contributed to our country’s diverse heritage. Chief Peguis was born near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, but settled in Netley Creek, near Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. In times of hostilities around the fur trade and ecological disasters, Chief Peguis proved himself to be a great leader and diplomat who worked to protect the rights and interests of the Anishinaabeg of Red River.
Parks Canada is committed to a system of national heritage places that celebrates the contributions of Indigenous peoples, their history and cultures, as well as the special relationship they have with the land. 2017 also marks the centennial of national historic sites and Parks Canada invites Canadians to discover and be inspired by the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped the Canada of today.
The Government of Canada is committed to reconciliation and nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on a recognition of rights, respect, co-operation, and partnership. Nation-to-nation reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is one of the main themes of Canada 150.
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is pleased to commemorate the national historic significance of Chief Peguis. By acting as a mediator in the fur trade conflict, the Ojibway leader saved many lives. The 150th anniversary of Confederation marks an important milestone for Canada and I encourage all Canadians to take this opportunity to learn more about this great man and his important role in our country's history.”
The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk
Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul
Quick Facts
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A skilled hunter and diplomat, Chief Peguis acted as a mediator in the fur trade conflict between the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company, stepping in to save lives when animosities threatened the Selkirk Settlement.
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Chief Peguis was one of five First Nations negotiators of the Selkirk Treaty in 1817, the first agreement permitting limited farmland access to settlers in western Canada.
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Faced with diminishing food resources such as fish, buffalo, and beaver, Chief Peguis co-founded a farming community which, in the face of poverty and starvation, assured the survival of his people.
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The Government is very pleased to offer free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas operated by Parks Canada in 2017 to celebrate Canada 150.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have marked Canada’s history.
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Contacts
Jodi Duhard
Public Relations and Communications Officer,
Manitoba Field Unit
Parks Canada
204-984-1758
jodi.duhard@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca